Self piercing earing with interchangeable decoration

ABSTRACT

An earring structure, with a separate post and decoration head that are separable, and where the post fits into a recess in the earing, and is magnetically held.

BACKGROUND

Ear piercing is done by placing a hole in one's ear through which an earring post will remain. After a user's ear is pierced, the spot through which the post is extending needs to heal, so that no infection will occur when the earring is inserted and removed. Conventionally, a special training earing is maintained in the ear which is initially sterile and is of a special material to reduce infection. This training earring cannot be removed from the ear for a certain amount of time, e.g. 6 weeks, until the piercing is healed.

The inventor recognizes, however, that this leads to a drawback that people who have just pierced their ears cannot interchange earrings in the pierced ears, when the piercing is first done—perhaps the most exciting time in the ear piercing process.

This led the inventors to also recognize that there can be advantageous ways of addressing this problem that are also applicable to situations where the ear has not been freshly pierced.

SUMMARY

This invention describes a special earring system which can be used to address these problems recognized by the inventor. According to one embodiment, a special self piercing post is used which is made entirely of magnetically attractive steel, e.g., magnetic stainless steel. The post has a first end which is intended to pierce through an ear using an ear piercing tool, and be maintained in the ear using a conventional clip.

An interchangeable decoration piece is attached to the post. The decoration piece is formed of a disk-shaped element, with a magnetically-attractive part located in a recess, and a stone such as a rhinestone covering the front portion of the magnetic part. The decoration piece is interchangeable and can be formed of any material, since it will not actually pierce the ear or touch the location where the ear piercing has occurred. Since the decoration piece is interchangeable, users can freely interchange the decoration piece for a different decoration piece which has a different stone thereon.

Another embodiment describes a similar earring system, without the self piercing features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The different figures show different embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a post of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a decoration piece of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows an ear piercing tool;

FIG. 4 shows a post and decoration piece of a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are shown and described with reference to the figures. A first embodiment describes using this as a self piercing earring system.

It should be understood that the dimensions given herein are exemplary, and not intended to limit the present claims. However, the dimensions explain how the different parts fit together in an advantageous way.

A stud portion 100 of the earring is formed of a post 100 which ends in a very sharp point 110 that will be used to pierce an ear. The sharp point is intended for piercing through the user's ear during the piercing process. The post 105 is a thin cylindrical metal, e.g 0.5 mm in diameter. At a first end of the post, the post 105 is pointed with a point 110. The second end of the post 115 ends in a disk shaped decoration holding head 120. The decoration holding head 120 in one embodiment is 1¼ mm in thickness, and 3 mm in diameter. The entire stud portion 100 is formed of the same material, preferably stainless steel. In one embodiment, the entire portion 100 can be milled from a single piece of stainless steel material or silver. In another embodiment, in order to save costs, the pointed post 105 can be attached at the point 115 to the disk shaped decoration holding head 120, where both are formed of silver or some other material.

In the case where the stud portion is formed of silver or some other material which is not magnetically attractable, a magnet or other magnetically attractive material can be embedded into the face of the stud portion

The decoration piece 200 is formed of a base piece 205 attached to a decoration piece 210 which in a preferred embodiment can be a cylindrically shaped rhinestone. The base piece 205 of the decoration piece is a cylinder which is larger than the cylindrical holding head 120 of the stud portion. The base piece 205 is round in outer cross-section, and has a diameter of 5 mm. The rear surface 215 of the disc-shaped piece includes a recess 220 which extends inward relative to the surface 215 by 1.5 mm. The recess 220 is a substantially cylindrical recess of diameter 3 mm, which with the 1½ mm extension yields a 3 mm×1.5 mm cylindrical recess. A disk shaped magnetically attractive piece, e.g., a magnet 225 of 3 mm in diameter by 1 mm in thickness is located in the bottom most portion of the disk shaped recess 220. This leaves an unfilled recess portion 230 which is a 0.5 mm deep, between the rear surface 215 and the facing surface 235 of the magnet 225. Therefore, the resulting structure of the decoration piece 200 includes a 0.5 mm cylindrical recess housing a magnet therein or a piece of steel that is magnetically attractive.

The 3 mm diameter head 120 of the stud piece has a facing surface 121, which is a flat surface forming the face of the disc-shaped holding head portion 120, which fits into the recess 220. When the facing head fits into the recess 220, it is held within the walls of the recess 230, with the face 121 being held to the magnet 235, and the sidewalls 122 held within surfaces of the recess 220, so that the decoration piece 200 cannot slide off of the head 120 of the stud.

Both the head 120 and the recess are similar shapes, here cylinders, for a better fit.

The opposite face 250 of the decoration piece is completely flat, and includes the stone decoration portion 210 attached thereto. In an embodiment, the stone decoration port is of a shaped structure, where the bottom portion of the stone 211 is of a first diameter of 5 mm that matches exactly with the 5 mm diameter of the decoration piece, and the diameter tapers inward to a second diameter at 212 which is narrower than the diameter of the decoration piece. This is done both for decorative purposes, and also for purposes of allowing use of a smaller stone.

It should be appreciated that while the measurements given herein describe exact measurements, it is intended that the cylindrical head 120 will be slightly less than 3 mm, and/or the recess formed between the walls 231 230, 231 will be slightly more than 3 mm, such that the 3 mm magnet is able to fit into this recess, and such that the disc-shaped head 230 is also able to fit into the recess. Other sizes are also possible.

In one embodiment, the remaining part of the recess, that is not filled by the magnet, is only 0.5 mm deep, which is a little less than half the thickness of the insertion holding head. Thus, only a portion of the thickness of the insertion holding head fits within the recess, keeping the decoration holding head only partly held within the recess. In this way, a portion of the decoration holding head does not seat within the recess making it easier to take off the decoration piece, but since a portion does fit in the recess, this makes it unlikely for the decoration part to slide off the decoration holding head.

In operation, the stud portion 100 is placed into an ear piercing gun 300 as shown in FIG. 3. When the stud portion is placed into the ear piercing gun, there is no stone thereon, so the head portion 120 of 3 mm is the only part that needs to be located on the ear piercing gun. In one embodiment, the head portion 100 is preloaded into the ear piercing gun, and used to pierce the ear, followed by the decoration portion being either separately purchased and/or separately attached to the head of the stud portion after the stud portion has been placed through the ear.

The inventor also found that when self piercing earrings of this type are used, pressure must be placed against the head of the earring to press the earring into the user's ear. This pressure either limits the kind of decoration that can be attached to the earring, or takes the chance that this decoration can be damaged during the insertion. For example, if the decoration on the outside of the earring is too fragile, it will not be able to withstand the force of the plunger of the ear piercing gun pressing the rest of the earring piece into the ear. This is avoided with the present system, since the plunger presses only against the head of the decoration holding piece. Even if intense forces damage that head, that head will never be shown, since the head is only used to attract to the magnetic or the magnet in the decoration piece.

In another embodiment, a similar structure is used without the self piercing.

Yet another embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the stud portion 400 includes a base piece 405 that has a cylindrical magnetically attractive part, e.g., a magnet attached to and extending from the decoration holding head of the stud portion. The facing surface is not flat, but rather has a cylindrical shaped magnetically attractive part, e.g., a magnet 410 extending outward from the surface. In an embodiment, the magnet 410 has a slightly smaller diameter than the face of the post. The magnet in this embodiment is 3 mm in diameter, attached on a 4 mm post. In one embodiment, a 3 mm recess is formed in the face of the post, and the magnetically attractive part, e.g. a magnet, is held in that recess. In an embodiment, 0.5 mm of the magnet extends beyond the face of the post.

The stone in this embodiment the decoration piece in this embodiment can be identical to the decoration piece in the other embodiment, having a 3 mm recess that fits over the magnetic piece. FIG. 4 shows the decoration piece being 5 mm is diameter, and 2 mm thick, with a 1.5 mm deep recess. That recess can have a magnet therein. In another embodiment, the decoration piece 450 is formed of magnetic steel, which is attracted to the extending magnet 410. In another embodiment, the recess is 0.5 or 0.6 mm in depth so that the magnet As in the first embodiment, the side surfaces of the magnet that extend from the facing surface hold into the sidewalls of the recess 452 in the decoration piece 400, and hence the decoration piece cannot slide off the facing surface.

By making the recess deeper than the width of the magnet, the magnetic force can be reduced, thus making it easier to remove the decoration piece off the stud portion and the magnet, however retaining sufficient magnetic force to keep the decoration piece attached onto the stud portion. In addition, surfaces of the magnetic piece extend into corresponding surfaces of the decoration piece, thus maintaining the decoration piece in place but making the decoration piece easier to remove and replace as needed.

In this embodiment, the magnet extends from the head, and around the magnet are also portions of the head of the post that are lower than the magnet, because the magnet extends from the head. These portions press against the bottom portion of the decoration piece, that surround the part of the decoration piece where the decoration piece does not have its recess.

In one embodiment, the recess is more than double the depth by which the magnet extends outside of the stud portion. In another embodiment, the recess is triple the depth by which the magnet outs extends outside the stud portion.

The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An earring structure, comprising: a first stud portion, having a post, formed of a first material, and having a first thin diameter intended to be inserted through an earlobe of a user's ear, the stud portion having an insertion surface at a first side, and at a second end having a disk shaped decoration holding head, the decoration holding head formed of a single piece of material, and formed of the same material as that the same first material is that forming the post, the decoration holding head having an outer surface facing away from the post, which is substantially circular in outer section; and a decoration piece, separate from the stud portion, but magnetically attachable to the stud portion, the decoration piece formed of a first diameter cylinder, having a rear surface with a recess therein, the recess being of a size which allows the decoration holding head to fit into the first recess and to be held between walls which are perpendicular to the rear surface of the decoration piece and form walls of the recess, where the cylindrical recess includes a cylindrical magnetic attachable element, where at least a portion of the decoration holding head fits in the cylindrical recess, and where the portion of the decoration holding head that fits in the cylindrical recess is cylindrical; and where the decoration holding head is magnetically held to the decoration piece, and further comprising a decoration attached to the second surface of the decoration piece.
 2. The structure as in claim 1, wherein the decoration holding head is substantially the same size as the recess in the decoration piece, and fits partly in the recess, so that a portion of the decoration holding peace extends outside the recess and a portion of the decoration holding piece is inside the recess.
 3. The structure as in claim 1, wherein there is a magnet in the decoration piece and the head of the decoration holding piece is held directly to the magnet.
 4. The structure as in claim 1, wherein the earring structure is a self piercing earring, and the piercing plunger presses against the head of the decoration holding piece to press the head into place.
 5. The structure as in claim 1, further comprising a decorative stone attached to the decoration piece, were the decorative stone has a lower section attached to the decorative head which is the same diameter as the decorative head and an upper section furthest from the decorative head which is a narrower narrower diameter than the decorative head thus forming a taper between the first surface than the second surface.
 6. The structure as in claim 1, wherein there is a cylindrical magnet on the decoration holding piece, extending from the decoration holding piece, and the cylindrical magnet fits in the recess in the decoration piece and the head of the decoration piece is held directly to the magnet.
 7. An earring system, comprising: a cylindrically shaped post; a cylindrically shaped head, coupled to a first end of the post, said cylindrically shaped head having a larger diameter than a diameter of the post; said cylindrically shaped head having a first magnetically attractable material attached to a facing surface of the head that faces opposite from the cylindrically shaped post; a decoration piece, having a first surface with an item of decoration thereon, and having a second surface facing opposite from the first surface, the decoration piece having a recess on the second surface, and a magnetically attractable material coupled inside the recess, wherein a part of the cylindrically shaped head fits into the recess in the second surface decoration, and edges of the part that fits into the recess are held by sidewalls in the recess in the decoration piece and by attraction between the first magnetically attractable material and the magnetically attractable material coupled inside the recess, and where a part of the cylindrically shaped head that fits into the recess does not extend all the way into the recess to touch magnetically attractable material coupled inside the recess.
 8. The earring system as in claim 7, wherein the first magnetic attractable material is a cylindrical magnet which extends from the facing surface of the cylindrically shaped head.
 9. The earring system as in claim 8, wherein the first magnetic attractable material fits into the recess and is completely in the recess, and where the recess is at least twice as deep as the amount by which the first magnetic material extends from the head.
 10. The earring system as in claim 9, wherein the magnetic attractable material extends from the head by 0.5 mm, and the recess in the decoration piece is at least 1 mm in depth with the second magnet at the bottom of the 1 mm depth.
 11. The earring system as in claim 7, wherein the second end of the cylindrically shaped post opposite to the first end includes a point thereon used for self piercing an ear.
 12. The earring system as in claim 11, further comprising an ear piercing system, which includes a plunger pressing against the cylindrically shaped post, and the plunger presses against a surface of the cylindrically shaped post which is subsequently covered by the decoration piece.
 13. The earring system as in claim 7, wherein the first magnetic attractable material is on the facing surface of the cylindrically shaped head, and the cylindrically shaped head fits in the recess.
 14. The earring system as in claim 7, wherein the first magnetically attractable material on the face has side surfaces and the recess also has side surfaces, and where a bottom surface of the decoration piece rests against a top surface of the stud that surrounds the magnetic attractable piece on the stud, and where side surfaces of the magnet on the stud are surrounded by the side surfaces of the recess.
 15. A method of self piercing an ear, comprising: first forming a stud portion, which has a first pointed portion and a second facing portion, facing away from the first pointed portion, the second facing portion including a magnetically attractive material therein, and the second facing portion being substantially cylindrical in outer cross-section; piercing an ear by pressing against the second facing portion using the plunger of an ear piercing device while forcing the first pointed portion through the ear; after piercing the ear, covering the second facing portion which was pressed against by the plunger, with a decoration piece that is magnetically attracted to a magnetically attractable material on the second facing portion, using a magnetically attractable material that is located in a recess in the decoration piece; and without removing the stud portion from the ear, changing from a first decoration piece to a second decoration piece that is also magnetically attracted to the stud portion.
 16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the stud portion is formed of silver, and where a face of the stud portion includes a magnetically attractable material therein, which fits into a recess in the decoration piece, and does not extend far enough into the decoration piece to touch the magnetically attractable material in the recess of the decoration piece.
 17. The method as in claim 15, wherein the stud portion includes a magnetically attractable material extending from the face of the stud portion, and extending into the recess, wherein the magnetically attractable material extends less than halfway into the depth of the recess.
 18. The method as in claim 17, wherein sidewalls of the recess surround sidewalls of the magnetically attractable material.
 19. The earring system as in claim 7, wherein the magnetically attractable material attached to the face of the stud is a magnet.
 20. The earring system as in claim 7, wherein the decoration piece includes a stone attached to the face of the decoration piece. 